Collapsible baby bathing device



Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,536,731

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet lImn: NT can PEYTDN W. 1] cm GLAE ATTmmw Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS2,536,731

COLLAFSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2I-mzs NT DR PEYTunw. DOUGLAS ATT BEND;

Jan. 2, 1951 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,536,731

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BATHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12, 1947INVEN'TDR FEYTDN W. DOUGLAS ATT CIRNE Y5 I Patented Jan. 2, 1Q51 UNITEDPATENT FFICE GOLLA PSIBLEBABY BATHING DEVICE .Peyton W. Douglas,Syracuse, N. Y.

Application June 512, 1947, Serial No. 754,161

"This invention relates to a collapsible bathing and dressing device foruse in connection with the careof infants. 7

Many attempts have been made to perfect a device for-bathing anddressing infants, and many types of such devices have been and :areavailable on the market. However, these devices are :so complicated,bulky, and costly, that in the average home they do not serve in theadvantageous manner :ior which they were intended. also. many of thesedevices, while bulky, are :fiimsy and weak in coi'ls'truc'tion.

The general object of this invention is to pro-- vide a device of thetype referred to embodying aparti-cularly simple and light structurewhich, in i'olded or collapsed condition, occupies a particularly smallamount 01 space, and which can be most conveniently set up for use andwhen in use'is rigid and durable. This general object is to -the endthat the device does not require any special arrangement for itssupport, but can be placed on the side rail of the infant's crib, or onthe backs of two ordinary chairs. Due to its exceptionally compact formwhen in folded condition, it can be left on the side of the crib withoutin any way interfering with its normal use, or it can be stored insubstantially the .same space as an ordinary card table. These featuresare of particular importance during existing housing conditions wheremany families are living in exceedingly cramped conditions, such as oneand two room apartments, trailers, camps, etc.

More particularly the invention has :as an object a device of the typereferred :to comprising a support in the form of a hat member adapted tobe suspended :in vertical position, as being hung from the side trail ofa crib, the backs of chairs, or the like, and including a frame 2memberhaving a tub formed of sheet flexible material, and a cover memberadapted to overlie the tub to form a surface on which the infant may beattended to and dressed. The tub and the cover member are adequatelysupported in horizontal operated position, and are readily moved fromthat position to a position against the support, whereby the entiredevice, in its folded condition, is a matter of two or three inches inthickness, all whereby it can be left on the side of the crib, or it canbe conveniently handled for storage elsewhere,

The invention has as a further object a particularly simple structurewhich can be most oconomically manufactured and conveniently used.

The invention consists in the novel features and .37 iGlaims. (Cl.4-177) in the combinations and construction herein-- aftersetiforth"and. claimed.

.In describing this invention, reference is had to theaccomp'anyingdrawings "in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

"Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bathing device embodying myinvention illustrated as being supported on the side rail of a babycrib.

Figure 2 is an end elevational View of "the bathing device showninFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken on line 3-3. Figure '2.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to'Figure :3, taken on line '4-4 Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cover and tub frame taken on line5--5, Figure A.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6'fi Figure 2.

Figure 7 is .an enlarged perspective view of the center joint of thecollapsible tub supporting braces.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view, similar to Figure '2, illustratingthe device in its folded form.

The device consists-of a support I0 which may be in the nature of a flatvplatelike member, and is provided with hooks II attached to its upperedge, whereby the .support may be suspended in vertical position, as bybeing hung on the side rail .12 of a baby crib, or the like. Preferably,bumper members I3 of rubber, or other resilient material, are arrangedin the hooks H and at the upper and lower edges of the plate ill toavoid .marring the structure on which the device is suspended.

vA. rectangular irame member is ,pivotally mounted along .one side tothe support 2! adjacent the upper edge thereof, and has suspended fromit a tub 15 formed of suitable flexible sheet material, such as sheetrubber.

This frame consists of end members in the form of rods 18 having the endportions ll thereof bent at right angles and extending into dowels, orrods 13. The end portions 17 extend through an aperture formed in abracket 29 secured to the support In and in this manner the frame ispivotally mounted along the rear side to the support. The fabric formingthe tub 15 extends over the side rods l8 and is supported thereby. Asecond frame of similar construction is likewise pivotal-1y mounted onthe brackets 20 and consists of end rods 22 and side .rdds'23. .Acovering of fabric material 24 is carried-11b? this upper frame, and theframe i supported by the forward side rail 28 engaging the forward siderail l8 of the lower frame.

The lower frame is supported in horizontal position by a collapsiblestay brace consisting of bars 25, 26, pivoted at their ends respectivelyto the portions I! at the forward end of the side rods l6 and tobrackets 28 mounted upon the support In near the lower edge thereof, seeFigure 6.

The bars 25, 26, are pivotally connected at their opposite ends, as at29, to form an overthe-center joint, the movement of which is lim-- itedby a projection 30, see Figure '7.

These stay braces are collapsible about the pivot 29 to permit the upperand lower frames to fold downwardly parallel to the support l and inclose proximity thereto, as illustrated in Figure 8.

It will be observed that the top frame carrying the cover 24 is movableabout its pivot upwardly past the vertical position, as indicated bydotted outline in Figure 2. to permit use of the tub portion !5. Whenthis frame is moved to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, it servesas a support for dressing and attending to the infant.

Many. devices of this type have been made available on the market.However, they have not possessed proper strength and rigidity. or theconstruction has been of such a nature that the devices sell at aprohibitive price and are cumbersome and awkward to handle.

The device herein described, while of simple construction, is entirelyrigid and durable in use, and by its arrangement it can be convenientlyused at the crib of the infant, and when collapsed to folded position,as shown in Figure 8, does not interfere with the use of the crib due tothe extremely compact arrangement in folded condition. However, infolded condition, it can be conveniently handled and stored when not inuse.

The tub is provided with a suitable drain valve 34 and I have found thata series of pockets 35, suspended from the forward side rail l8 of thelower frame, provide a convenient receptacle for soap, powder, and otherarticles, usually used in connection with the care of the infant. Thesepockets do not have to be emptied when the device is folded to collapsedcondition, the pockets assuming a position as indicated in Figure 8.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to besuspended in vertical position, a pair of rectangular frames composed ofrigidly spaced side members arranged one above the other and pivotallymounted along one side of said support adjacent the top edge thereof onhorizontal axes, a tub member formed of flexible sheet material carriedby said lower frame side members, a pair of collapsible stay bracesattached to said support and the opposite side of said lower frame, andbeing operable in staying position to support said lower frame inhorizontal position, said upper frame being supported by said lowerframe, and said braces being 001-. lapsible to permit said frames toswing downwardly parallel to said support and in close proximitythereto.

2. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to besuspended in vertical position, upper and lower rigid rectangular frameseach composed of side and end members, each pivotally mounted along oneside with respect to said support adjacent the top thereof on hori- 4zontal axes, a tub formed of flexible sheet material carried by themembers of said lower frame, a cover formed of sheet material carried bysaid upper frame, a pair of collapsible stay braces cooperable with saidsupport and said lower frame to maintain the same in horizontalposition, said lower frame being movable about its pivot to verticalposition independently of the pivotal movement of said upper frame, saidbraces being collapsible to permit said frames to swing downwardlyparallel to said support and in close proximity thereto.

3. In a baby bath, a tub frame composed of spaced longitudinallyextending rods having end bores therein, and transverse rigid membershaving ends bent to project into said bores, a tub composed of flexiblematerial suspended from said rods, a support frame, brackets on saidsupport frame spaced substantially the length of one of said rods andhaving apertures, a bent end of each of said transverse members beingthreaded through a bracket aperture before projecting into a rod bore,and knee braces having one end pivoted to said support frame, and theother end apertured and threaded upon the opposite bent end of each ofthe transverse members.

4. In a baby bath, a frame composed of spaced longitudinally extendingrods having end bores therein, and transverse members having ends bentto project into said bores, flexible material extending across saidframe and secured to said rods, a second frame, and brackets associatedwith said second frame spaced substantially the length of one of saidrods and having apertures, one bent end of each of said transversemembers being threaded through a bracket aperture before projecting intoits respective rod end bore.

5. In a baby bath, a substantially rectangular rigid frame, a flexibletub suspended from said frame, a Vertical support, means for pivotallymounting said frame upon said support along one side of the frame, bracemeans having their respective ends pivotally connected to said supportin vertically spaced relation to the pivotally supported frame side andextending to and pivotally connected to the other frame side, and asecond substantially rectangular frame pivotally supported along oneedge on an axis adjacent to said pivotally supported frame side.

6. In a baby bath, a tub supporting frame composed of spacedlongitudinally extending side rods and transverse end members, a tub offlexible material suspended from said rods, a support, means pivotallysupporting one side of said frame upon said support, a second framecomposed of spaced side rods, and end spacer members having bent endsprojected into the ends of said rods, and bracket means threaded on theopposed bent ends projecting into one of said rods, said brackets beingmounted with respect to said first frame to provide a pivotal axis forsaid second frame adjacent and parallel to the pivotal axis of the firstframe, and brace means for said first frame extending to said support.

7. In a baby bath, a vertical support, an elon gated rectangular framehaving side members and end members, pivotal means connecting one ofsaid side members to said support for movement from a. vertical positionparallel with said support to a horizontal position at right anglesthereto, a tub composed of flexible material suspended from said framewhen in horizontal position, knee brace means extending from said sup- 55 port well below said pivotal means and extend- REFERENCES CITED mg toSaid other Side member in bracmg r813" The following references are ofrecord in the tion thereto, brackets having parallel plate pori t tionsmounted adjacent either end of said first filiof m 5 named side member,a rectangular frame com- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS posed of spaced sidemembers having end aper- Number Name Date tures, one side member beingadapted to exte d 547,830 Yates Oct. 15, 1895 between said plateportions, an aperture in each 1,395,624 Schneider J1me 1919 of saidplate portions, and rod members having 2,985,901 DePuy at ,1, July 6,1937 right angle bent ends connecting said side mem- 10 2,374,110 LewisApr. 17, 1945 bers, the bent ends secured in the respective endapertures, the bent ends extending into the apertures of said one memberthreading through the apertures of said plate portions to form a pivotalmount for said last named frame. 15

PEYTON W. DOUGLAS.

